Bausch Unveils 5-year Plan

June 29, 1985|The Morning Call

Lehigh County Executive David Bausch's proposed capital plan for the next five years lists 23 public projects totaling $45,389,444, the bulk of which is a proposed $30.2-million sewage pre-treatment plant in the Trexlertown area of Upper Macungie Township to serve western Lehigh industries and homes.

The plan includes a proposed $1.2-million two-story addition to the county jail by 1987 to house 48 prisoners, reportedly to improve the jail's inmate classification facilities, and $330,000 more for indoor recreational facilities for inmates.

Bausch released his proposed capital plan to the county commissioners yesterday, two days before the annual June 30 deadline mandated by the county home rule charter.

The commissioners must review the plan and adopt a final version by Sept. 1.

Bausch reported the listed projects were developed carefully by his staff and reflect the county's priority needs, which were reviewed in detail by Bausch before inclusion in the plan.

The commissioners' planning committee will conduct detailed review sessions of the capital plan with Bausch aides within the next two weeks.

Public hearings regarding the proposed plan will bescheduled by the commissioners prior to placement of the plan on the commissioners' legislative agenda.

Bausch reported a final agreement with Stroh Brewery about the sewage pre- treatment plan is still in negotiation, but the brewery's contribution will be determined with two months.

The commissioners will be given a choice between two types of pre- treatment plants. The legislators' choice can be added to the capital plan as an amendment, he stated.

The county executive explained to the commissioners he has included in the capital plan a publicized modified life care residential project for the elderly ($6.8 million), though it involves no county funding.

The apartments are to be built in western Lehigh on county land, and the project will require certain financial guarantees by the county, he related.

Bausch reported that two more priority projects are development of a solid-waste removal plan and system ($30,000 more) and improvement of the Basin Street corridor in South Allentown (a $6-million project involving mostly federal funds) for the continued growth of the city and county economy through smoother traffic flow.

Other projects circled by the county executive include improvements at the county game preserve, the Catasauqua Lake area ($80,000) and the completion of the footbridge at Leaser Lake ($6,500).

Some other items in the capital plan are $11,500 for a van for the county sheriff; $92,700 more for computer development by county administrators; $122,000 for vehicles at Cedarbrook, the county home for the aged; $67,000 more for computer development at Cedarbrook; demolition of the defunct county sewage pre-treatment plant at Trexlertown, $50,000; sewer interceptor reconstruction, $70,000; tractor for parks, $13,700; a pole barn, $15,000; other parks improvements, $9,738; and these projects for the county courts: consolidation of district justice offices, $236,000; tele-facsimile equipment, $4,000; other furnishings and equipment, $15,306; radios, $11,000; new courtroom, $25,000.